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Thursday, May 30, 2013

Classroom teachers in Lamitan City and Basilan Divisions are the first to receive today their boxes of chalks and erasers. DepEd-ARMM Regional Secretary Atty Jamar Kulayan reveals, "this in response to complaints that most teachers are using their personal money to buy chalks and eraser. Shipment for the other schools divisions in the ARMM is underway."

"In addition, weighing scales and multivitamins were also distributed to all the school districts in an attempt to support improve the health conditions of school children in the region."

In the same occasion today in Basilan, school bags for grade 1 pupils were also distributed.

Sunday, May 26, 2013

Cotabato City - More than one hundred newly recruited teachers whose appointment have been attested by the Civil Service Commission in the ARMM troop to Cotabato City for a week of induction program. The new recruits are mainly from Marawi City, Lanao Sur IA, IB, II and a handful from Maguindanao I and II.

All of these teacher-inductees are LET passers and in order to put a stop on allegation of "fake eligibility", all of these recruits have their license validated through the PRC online verification system. Verification is a cornerstone of the recruitment process in DepEd-ARMM under the current reform government in the ARMM.

According to DepEd-ARMM Regional Secretary Atty. Jamar M. Kulayan, the week-long induction is in compliance with Civil Service requirement as specified in Section 7(b) of Rule VIII of Book V of Executive Order 292. The induction program is about providing first-hand information to new entrants in government service, specifically on DepEd-ARMM system, rules and regulations, rights and responsibilities of public school teachers, the recently approved K to 12 law and status of its curriculum implementation, and a host of supplementary topics relevant to teachers such as membership and privileges in GSIS, PhilHealth, Pag-IBIG and becoming responsible taxpayers.

Another feature of the induction program is the inclusion of brain psychology and child development consistent with UNICEF standards in promoting and protecting child rights.

For newly-elected Regional Governor Mujiv Hataman, he envisions the induction program as a way of instilling pride, belonging and commitment to public service; to remind new teacher-inductees of their vocation as nurturers of the next generation.

Many teacher-inductees present salute the effort of DepEd-ARMM in coming up with this regional induction program which allows them to transition and warm up to their new role. They are all smile to learn that this is provided for free, with their transportation reimbursed, food and accommodation.

According to Assistant Regional Secretary Noor Saada preparation is underway for the conduct of simultaneous TIP for the next mainland and island batches next month.

Saturday, May 25, 2013

Program Team Leader Kevin Corbin paint classroom doors for Brigada Eskwela on 23 May 2013.

Maguindanao, Mindanao – Australian AID’s Basic Education Assistance for Muslim Mindanao (BEAM-ARMM) Program, led by DepED-ARMM, is supporting 76 schools / 50,447 students throughout ARMM to improve their schools during the Department of Education’s (DepED) Brigada Eskwela – National School Maintenance Week – from 20-25 May 2013. ARMM Education Secretary, Atty. Jamar Kulayan, led the ceremonial launching on 23 May at Saniag Elementary School in Ampatuan District in Maguindanao II.

AusAID’s support to Brigada Eskwela is engaging education stakeholders (parents; teachers; community members; etc.) in ARMM to contribute time, effort, and resources to prepare school facilities for the new school year, starting in June, an action issued by DepED Secretary Bro. Armin Luistro at the DepED Central Office on 27 February 2013. “Australia’s participation in Brigada Eskwela is part of Australia’s significant and broader commitment to helping improve the quality of teaching and learning in the Philippines. Education is the flagship of our aid program in the Philippines,” Australian Ambassador Bill Tweddell said as he joined Department of Education Secretary Bro Armin Luistro at the Brigada Eskwela kick-off ceremonies in Manila.

BEAM-ARMM is using these activities as an ongoing engagement with schools and communities that receive comprehensive programming, including rehabilitation and construction support, health, water, sanitation and hygiene, and assistance to Islamic Schools throughout BEAM-ARMM’s Program to address targeted outcomes of improved participation and completion and quality in basic education. Of the 76 schools, 50 are public elementary and 26 are Islamic schools (Madaris). Fifty (50) public schools were identified with DepED-ARMM, using DepED’s national enhanced Basic Education Information System (eBEIS) as a basis to identify areas most in need. Schools coded red – schools with severe shortage of classrooms, defined by pupil to room ratios of 56+:1 – have been selected to receive immediate assistance. The 26 Madaris were identified through DepED-ARMM’s Bureau of Madrasah Education (BME).

BEAM-ARMM’s package of assistance for Brigada Eskwela 2013 includes a school improvement grant of PHP20,000 for public schools and PHP10,000 for Madaris (Madaris will receive additional assistance immediately after Brigada Eskwela through other programming) to address immediate improvements, including: painting; new teaching and learning materials; new and/or repaired school furniture; and, other efforts identified by the school and community that will directly benefit school children. BEAM-ARMM’s technical and infrastructure staff will on-site to provide direct support to these activities through DepED-ARMM lead coordinators at each school and community. Target schools are currently submitting Brigada Eskwela (BE) plans to identify specific maintenance activities needed at the school level, how the community intends to mobilize stakeholders, what resources have been committed, and how BEAM-ARMM resources would be utilised. School PTAs will identify prioritised needs, prepare canvass (3 quotes) for supplies, and BEAM-ARMM will spot check and address the financial transaction directly (due to current local capacity). Future training and programming will include PTAs and local organisations receiving grants and managing resources directly, with support from BEAM-ARMM.

BEAM-ARMM is a 6-year education program that enables the children and youth of Muslim Mindanao to develop and reach their full potential. The Program delivers accessible and healthy learning facilities, quality teachers, quality learning materials, and a protective environment for children in need and out of school youth, through effective, transparent and accountable management systems. Its eventual goal is to contribute to the alleviation of poverty in ARMM and, in the longer term, to the emergence of sustainable peace through closely targeted investments in basic education that prepare ARMM to engage productively with economic opportunities as they arise. The contribution from the Government of Australia for the initial 3-year phase of BEAM-ARMM is valued at AUD $85M and AUD 8.5M over 72 months from the Government of the Philippines.

Friday, May 24, 2013

Marawi City - Teachers, soldiers and volunteers swept trees away, threw trash, saw damage in some classrooms used in elections, spoke on teachers and schools’ needs and dialogued on peace and order, and prayed together. And they even sang together , The More We Get Together. This was a joint activity of Task Force “KASALIMBAGO”, PNP, DepEd-ARMM and the 103rd Infantry (Haribon) Brigade, 1ID together with its operation (OPCON) units . “BRIGADA ESKWELA” 2013 will go to different schools in Marawi City, Lanao del Sur from May 21-25, 2013 to help and offer assistance to the teachers in the various schools to clean their area before the academic year 2013 – 2014 starts. The groups supporting the activity aimed to assure the students and their parents particularly in elementary schools that maintenance of cleanliness in the school grounds is essential and vital in school-management to generate an environment of order to acquire quality and excellent education. The activity would help the students to have peace of mind and to feel comfortable while they are in school.

Wednesday, 22nd of May 2013 the group visited three elementary schools in Marawi City namely - Angoyao Central School, Cadayonan Elementary School and Calocan Elementary School.

Angoyao Central School had a meaningful story to share in that the Supervisor's room was shot at showing a bullet through the window Sunday 3 in the morning before Monday elections. One room's teacher was almost torched which traumatized the teacher to this day. Threatened by some 5 shots in the air , during the elections, the teachers were not cowed and they continued their duties during Monday. Piraco Abedin Macadato, a grade 1 teacher, said the teachers conducted a meeting a week ago and decided to have their Brigada Eskwela this day. Angoyao Central School was also one of the voting centers during the National and Local Election held last May 13, 2013. The teachers already expected that aside from fixing the chairs and tables, painting the flag poles and black boards and cutting the grass of the school grounds, they will also clean the mess that was left during the Election day.

Principal Mariam D. Lala, District Supervisor Topnine Abedin and a District Staff Aileen Pangadapun requested for an assistance to fix a number of rooms in the school that was damaged due to an Election Offense that was done night before the Election Day. One of the rooms there was attempted to destroy by fire but fortunately it was stopped before the fire could damage the whole room . The crime report was already forwarded to the PNP and the investigation is going on. After Angoyao Central School, the team moved to Cadayonan Elementary School which had some 400 to 500 students. Zamanorong A. Luma, the School Principal conveyed that their Brigada Eskwela started last April 21, 2013 up to this date. Their primary concern was the lack of chairs and tables for the students. There are 12 teachers working and operating in Cadayonan Elementary School.

Caloocan Elementary School was also visited by the team. Caloocan Elementary School was badly affected by Typhoon Sendong and Pablo. Some parents have opted to transfer their children because of the damaged schoolbuildings. The school can even be prioritized because it can be considered as the school that is worst hit by disasters as provided for in the Law on Disaster Risk Reduction. Administrators face a huge problem before the classes start because parents will be forced to withdraw their children and enroll them in other schools.

However, it became a very auspicious day to them because visitors from the BEAM Project, ARMM came to offer assistance to needy schools. Almighty is great. ASDS Ana Zenaida Alonto-Unte together with Engr. Floriano Araňez and Jing Chavez, members of the Infrastructure team of the BEAM Project handed 20,000 pesos to the Caloocan Elementary School’s Administrator as a partial help for the materials that will be used to repair and fix the damages of the said school. The BEAM Project of the ARMM chose the five schools in Marawi City, Lanao del Sur and offered classrooms rehabilitation and renovation to turn the classrooms into a new building. They also might assist in the construction of a new building and most importantly repairing water system for the maintenance of the cleanliness of the school.

After each visit to the three schools, a mini-program is conducted to discuss the concerns and problems seen. Possible solutions were presented to the school administrators. Here is a salute and recognition to the teachers and to the security sector, PNP and army for their support to make the Elections and the Brigada activity successful. May bayanihan be institutionalized to invite parents, imams and communities together in a regular dialogue and pulong pulong. Sepcial mention to Major Mocsana , 103rd Brigade, Sergeant Aberin (grass-cutting), PNP Inspector Salimbago, Provincial Director Moksan, Inspector Acuna, and the Principals who shared meals after the clean-up.

PASIG CITY - Education Secretary Br. Armin A. Luistro FSC has reiterated the Department of Education (DepEd) policy that strictly prohibits the collection of fees during enrolment in all public schools when school year 2013-2014opens on June 3.

Based on DepEd Order 41 series of 2012 (“Revised guidelines on the opening of classes”), Luistro has directed all school officals that no fees shall be collected from school children in kindergarten up to Grade 4 anytime during school year 2013-2014. For Grade 5 pupils up to 4th year high school students, there will be no collection from June to July 2013.

“There is an urgent need to minimize, if not eliminate, financial constraints among parents durng the opening of classes,” says Luistro, adding that while the contributions may be voluntary, the fact that they are collected on the first day of classes may intimidate some parents.

Luistro also warns school officials on compulsory collections. “Let me be clear on this, in no case shall non-payment of voluntary school contributions or membership fees be made a basis for non-admission, non-promotion or non-issuance of clearance to a student. And that includes withholding of report cards.” The public is advised to call DepEd’s DETxt hotlines (02) 636-1663 and (02) 633-1942 or email [email protected] to report unauthorized collections.

At DepEd-ARMM, Regional Secretary Atty Jamar Kulayan, advises parents and concerned community members to report unauthorized collections to the Action Center for Education (ACE). The
ACE media services and details are as follows:

Short
messaging system (SMS) or texting – (Smart) 0918-695-8517 and (Globe)
0916-358-5010

Monday, May 20, 2013

The Batch 4 of the Teacher Induction Program (TIP) will commence on May 26. The target participants are newly-recruited teachers from mainland divisions whose appointment has been attested by the Civil Service Commission.

The TIP is part of the newly-elected RG Mujiv Hataman's thrust in empowering qualified teachers with correct and up-to-date information about DepEd system and structure; K to 12 policy implementation, rules and regulations pertaining to Civil Service, PhilHealth and GSIS; and BIR tax identification and computation of withholding tax.

Participants are advised to check in by noon of May 26 and check out by May 31, at the Pacific Heights Hotel, Cotabato City. No registration fees. Food and accommodation will be paid by the Regional Office. Economical mode of transportation will also be reimbursed.

Separate Induction Program for the island divisions will be announced later once the desired number has been completed.

The Batch 4 participants all will come from mainland divisions, as follows: